The Ordo Templi Orientis Phenomenon

A research project done by Peter-Robert Koenig

A detailed historical field research on the psycho-sociology of a modern secret society called Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.). All about modern day occultism and money; so-called Templars and falsification of history; Gnostics in the kitchen and bedrooms and their expanded consciousness; Illuminati and conspiracy; NeuRosicrucians; religious liberty and sexmagick; their relation with Voodoo and Freemasonry; rituals, correspondences, books and articles.

This study is not an introduction to occult or esoteric topics, although it discusses the magical practices and rituals of the pertinent groups. It is mainly a documentation and sometimes discussion of the behaviour of the participant parties.

This study is a mirror of the many puzzle pieces of a phenomenon that is characterised through the inconsistency and subjectivity of its sources. Apart from legal criteria, every puzzle piece has been used. Folkloristic aspects are part of the psycho-sociology and of the history.

The letters O.T.O. (or OTO) stand for Ordo Templi Orientis. The O.T.O. is a pseudo-masonic organization. Neither the use of the letters nor of the full name is unique to any group. Since the founding of the O.T.O. in 1906 in Germany, many groups have appropriated the name, its abbreviations, and acronyms and imbued them with contents to their own taste and liking. There are several rival groups using the name Ordo Templi Orientis or O.T.O. Some of them derive from an “original” that is, a ‘first’, O.T.O. but not all. Not all but a few of them can lay some claim to stem from the “original” i.e. first O.T.O. (of 1906).

The structure of the O.T.O., like that of Freemasonry, is based on a staged series of initiations or degrees. The essence / secrets of the Ordo Templi Orientis-variations are in their higher degrees; strictly speaking only members of these degrees are considered to be members of the O.T.O. proper.
Aleister Crowley: "Of the [highest] Eleventh Degree[of the Ordo Templi Orientis], its powers, privileges, and qualifications, nothing whatever is said in any grade. It has no relation to the general plan of the Order, is inscrutable, and dwells in its own palaces." (Liber CXCIV, 1919) "I am inclined to believe that the XIth degree is better than the IXth degree", diary entry 26 August 1916.

While the O.T.O.’s initiatory system is a sort of Kafkaesque bureaucratic club game, it has a religious association under its obedience: The Gnostic Catholic Church. One of the O.T.O.groups intends "to restore Christianity to its real status as a solar-phallic religion." In addition to tax advantages, religion supplies a commodity that is always in demand: salvation. And it would seem that some O.T.O.-variations are simply making themselves bulletproof in the context of the law in some countries.

The technical term for the bishopric in the context of the O.T.O. Phenomenon is Wandering Bishop or Episcopi Vagantes. This status is not defined by any character qualities, not by theological education or theological position. These bishops are not elected by a canonical church, nor proposed as an ordain by a suffragan and not bound to a historical episcopal see or consecrated by an 'official' bishop according to the canonical procedure.

A 'real' bishop is not a successor of a sole apostle as only the synod/college of bishops in toto are heir to the college of the apostles. Therefore: no Wandering Bishop has a 'real' apostolic succession. There is no Holy Ghost in Wandering-Bishop-consecrations.
The instrumentum consecrationis is of no apostolic value. Nonetheless, Wandering Bishops are collectors of papers and diplomas.

In all Ordo Templi Orientis versions, the line of succession is vitally important, as it is believed that the leader is the repository of the Order’s magical power, and also has a claim on various copyrights and royalties, especially of Aleister Crowley’s work.

This site is about the German Fraternitas Saturni, the Golden Dawn, Memphis Misraim (one of the "mother"-Orders of the Ordo Templi Orientis), the Gnostic Catholic Churches (of French origin), the German Order of the Illuminati, the Anthroposophy, the mostly Pan-American Fraternitas Rosicruciana Antiqua, the QBLH, A.M.O.R.C., the Austrian AAORRAC, German Pansophia, the Choronzon Club (a sort of homosexual O.T.O. off-shoot), Ordo Templi Orientis Antiqua as an example of gnostic inflation with uncountable outpours and affiliations: eg the 'Monastery of the 7 Rays' and 'La Couleuvre Noire'; a new American O.T.O. founded in 1977 (called 'Caliphate'), the Society O.T.O. (in Brazil and the US), the Typhonian Ordo Templi Orientis (these days called Typhonian Order), the Swiss O.T.O., also about the Solar Lodge of the O.T.O. and Charles Manson; Abramelin and Holy Guardian Angels: Aiwaz, LAM, Baphomet and its equivalent: the egregor GOTOS of the Fraternitas Saturni.

Discussions about spermo-gnosticism, the Elixir of Life and homeopathy, Aleister Crowley's religion called Thelema and the protofascistic and misogynist elements of occult culture; a presentation of never before published rituals (of the original Ordo Templi Orientis: a variation of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Light) and texts lost in the archives until now.

Read about scurrilous legal opinions and fights and get puzzled by the Ethnological approach to all this.

Secrets of the Rosicrucians, Templars and the Illuminati

Discussions on the Nature of the O.T.O. Phenomenon

The suitability of methods for thinking about occultism and esotericism is linked to results. So long as those insights stay discursive, innovative and useful, any method — however informal or offbeat — is not only appropriate but even required. Thus scientific analysis becomes a conversation between subject and researcher, and can only ever yield tentative results. Wayward ideas can and should be viewed from a wayward perspective.

Regarding Crowley's antidemocratic, racist and misanthropic writings, followers point out: "The reason [...] aspects of Thelema are omitted [in public discussion] indicates the actual problem with presenting Thelema as a religion and attempting to get Thelema sanctioned by the government or approved by the public: Thelema is ultimately in contrast to and transgressive of normative society. Thelema rejects the morals and values of normative society and acts to transgress and violate these norms. From the inclusion of intoxicants in ritual, to the positive view of sexuality, which frequently is seen as promoting promiscuity, to the pro–authoritarian and Nietzschian aspects of Thelema, normative society has much to reject in Thelema and conversely, Thelema encourages its adherents to reject most aspects of normative society."